Fee hikes have made higher education inaccessible for common people: LoP

Leader of Opposition in the Delhi Assembly Vijender Gupta has condemned the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government for the steep hike in fees at government technical education institutions. Gupta accused the government of undermining the future of students while claiming to have launched an “education revolution”.

“The massive fee hikes over the last five years have made higher education in Delhi Government institutions increasingly inaccessible for common people,” said Gupta.

He highlighted that the annual fees for technical courses, such as BTech, had surged dramatically from Rs 1,51,000 in 2018-19 to Rs 2,36,700 in 2023-24, making it difficult for many students to continue their education. This rise in fees, according to Gupta, has contributed to a significant drop in student enrolment.

The Leader of Opposition also pointed out that even general courses at government institutions have become financially burdensome.

“While the average annual fee for a BA or BCom degree at Delhi University is Rs 15,000, the fee at Delhi Government institutions is Rs 70,000 — more than four times higher,” Gupta noted. Hostel fees, too, have seen a sharp increase, rising from Rs 20,000 in 2021-22 to Rs 60,000 in 2022-23.

Gupta further accused the AAP government of cutting the grant-in-aid to these institutions, placing an increasing financial burden on students and their families.

“The grant-in-aid for Delhi Technical University (DTU) has been slashed from Rs 56 crore in 2023-24 to Rs 41 crore in 2024-25, and similarly, funding for Netaji Subhas University of Technology (NSUT) has been reduced from Rs 80 crore to Rs 56 crore,” he added.

The Opposition leader also criticised the government’s priorities, contrasting the allocation of funds for lavish projects like the “Sheeshmahal” with the apparent lack of investment in educational institutions.

In his letter to Chief Minister Atishi, Gupta called for urgent action to address the rising fees. “It is the responsibility of the Delhi Government to ensure that higher education remains affordable, so that our students can compete in the global economy and contribute to India’s growth,” he said.

Gupta also pointed to the Central Government’s initiatives under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, which focus on empowering youth and providing opportunities for their development.